MANUEL FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

June 11, 1939 – Feb. 24, 2023 Manuel Frnacisco Rodriguez, 8 3, o f Calexico, CA, was born on June 11, 1939, in Los Angeles, CA. He passed away of complications f rom a pulmonary illness on February 24, 2023, at El Centro Regional Medical Center. Manuel married Grace Rodriguez on A ugust 1, 1980, in Las Vegas, NV. After graduating from high s chool in 1958, Manuel e nlisted in t he United States M arine Corps, w here h e obtain the rank of Private First Class and served as a Field Artillery B atteryman. Manuel would fulfill his four-year commitment a nd o btained an honorable discharge in 1963. M anuel would return to Los Angeles to work a t his father's restaurant, the El Amigo Cafe. After r elocating to Calexico, CA, Manuel would commence a f irefighter career after being hired by t he C alexico Fire Department in 1967. Manuel retired as a captain f rom the Calexico Fire Department in 1994. Manuel would then work for the State of California's Employment Development D epartment, as a Park Aide for the California State Parks, and lastly as a g asoline station attendant for Costco. Manuel was preceded in d eath b y his father, Manuel Rodriguez; mother, Elvira R odriguez; brother, R enaldo ( Ronnie) R odriguez; and grandson, Jose R oberto Rodriguez. He is survived by his wife, Grace Rodriguez; sons, Jose R odriguez, Freddie Rodriguez, a nd Kasey Rodriguez; daughter, E lizabeth R eisen; brother, F ernando Rodriguez; s isters, Ruth Bringas and Rosita Hall; along with many grandchildren. A visitation will be held on M arch 2 0, 2 023, at Hems Brothers Mortuary in Calexico, CA, at 9 a.m. Mass will be held at Our Lady o f Guadalupe Church in Calexico, CA, at 1 1:30 a.m., followed by the burial a t Mt. V iew Cemetery at 1 p.m.